Japanfest a celebration of culture, music, art, food movies and bonsai trees

Some Americans might merely think of Japan as the land of Mount Fuji, sushi, Godzilla and the Seven Samurai.

It's much more, as evidenced by Saturday's Japanfest, a full-blown celebration of Japanese music, culture, food, movies and martial arts at the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. The fest continues from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. See japanfest-chicago.org for details.

"My dream is that this Japanese festival becomes the biggest in the Midwest," said Manabu "Manny" Yoshiike of Northbrook, one of the co-chairs of Japanfest. "We want the American people to come and to enjoy this festival, and for us to get to know each other better."

Japanfest goes back 34 years and until two years ago had been solely operated by the Japanese Club, said Glenview resident Jean Mishima, president of the Chicago Japanese American Council and the other co-chair of this weekend's Japanfest.

"We want to promote the Japanese culture and traditions," she said. "We want to keep them alive."

Between 4,000 and 6,000 visitors are expected to attend the weekend festival.

Saturday's events involved mini-music concerts, choral presentations, martial arts demonstrations and dance.

Schaumburg High School graduate and Hanover Park resident Harumi Miyakawa, 23, opened the festival with stirring renditions of both the Japanese national anthem, "Kimigayo" ("The Reign of Our Emperor"), and America's "Star-Spangled Banner."

"Japan's anthem is all about respect and loyalty," Miyakawa said. "The American anthem is really bright and heartwarming. To be able to sing both of them together is really wonderful."

Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes addressed the gathering with words of solidarity in what used to be District 214's old Forest View High School gym.

"We are very proud of the relationship and friendship we've been able to establish with the Japanese-American community," he said.

Glenview resident James Fairchild isn't Japanese at all, but he picked up the art of cultivating bonsai trees from a World War II vet in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, who had learned the art while in Japan.

"This is addictive," he said, barely looking up from his task of wiring a small tree branch. "You care for these trees just as you would children. It's an art form that's never finished. The only finished bonsai is a dead bonsai. It's like a living, growing art. It rejuvenates my spirit."

The oldest festival patron is probably Stanley Fukai of Chicago. He's 90. He retired in 1989, but still comes to Japanfest, wherever it's held. Last year, Japanfest popped up in Elk Grove Village.

"I like to see old and new friends," he said. "But my friends are disappearing now."

By a quirk of fate, Fukai's father had taken his American family back to Japan in 1940, just before the U.S. entered World War II.

"After the war, Uncle Sam said I could come back," he said. "I made it just under the rope."

Fukai will be 91 when the next Japanfest launches in 2017. He said he's not sure he'll be around to enjoy it.

"Yeah, I might want to go fishing instead," he said.

WHAT: JapaneseFest, a celebration of Japanese culture, food. history, music and martial arts

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 12

WHERE: The Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights

TICKETS: $5 for ages 18 and older at the door

SCHEDULE and DETAILS: japanfest-chicago.org